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Saturday, August 28, 2010

Just Rite is sponsoring an awesome challenge over at the Caardvarks blog and I decided to play along. I haven't made any tags in a while, and Christmas tags are always fun to make. I came up with a set of three, vintage style tags using Cornish Heritage Farms 'Night Before Christmas' stamp set.

I've always loved the old fashioned illustrations on cards and calendars from days gone by and I tried to replicate the look with these tags. This CHF set makes it easy to do with their nostalgic images. I went with water coloring with Distress Inks, in muted tones with lots of 'aging' around the edges.

I even added some German glass glitter to the snowy village scene, like crystal snowflakes gently falling down. I think that one is my favorite! The papers are from an older My Mind's Eye Christmas collection.

On the backs of the tags I used a Merry Christmas stamp, along with the 'To: From:' stamp, also from the same stamp set. I colored the holly and berries with red and green Copic Spica pens.

These took a lot of time, but boy were they fun! I don't think I would give these tags away, they would look awesome just hanging from a tree, or a pine garland over the fireplace.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Welcome to the Coloring Techniques for Card Making Blog Hop! Today we wanted to introduce you to a brand new, must-have book that has been written to help shed some light on some of the hottest trends in coloring techniques in paper crafting today.

Coloring Techniques for Card Making features three of the most popular coloring techniques in card making today--water coloring, colored pencils and using alcohol-based ink markers. Each chapter showcases one particular technique and includes an introductions that will help you choose the products that are right for you, and will walk you through the steps to creating one of our featured projects. Easy-to-follow instructions, detailed materials lists and helpful coloring tips will make it easy for you to achieve stunning card-making results. As a bonus, enjoy a chapter that focuses on ways to highlight and accentuate your projects with products such as glitter and gel pens, shading techniques and methods for creating the look of texture with color.

I have four projects featured in this book, but this is my favorite- 'The Secret Fishing Spot'. I loved creating this card, I used one of my favorite color combinations, Spring Moss and Ocean Tides. They go together so beautifully. I also love it because I love water coloring, it's how I started when I was a rubber stamp newbie. I know I use colored pencils a lot more now, but there is nothing in my opinion that compares to the look of water colors!

We are pleased that you have joined us for the hop! Be sure to leave a comment at each blog along the way to be entered for your chance to win a free copy of Coloring Techniques for Card Making!
The other designers who are participating in the blog hop are as follows:

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

This week the challenge at the LOTV challenge blog is to use circles and/or dots on your card. I chose the 'I baked a cake' stamp for this card. The sweet bear has dots on her apron and dress, which suited this challenge perfectly. I added some Sakura white Glaze pen dots to highlight them a little more. I love how opaque it dries!

I used one of the sketches from the Mojo Monday blog, I kind of have a hard time using circles on my cards, so I needed a little help, lol.

As usual, I colored the bear with my colored pencils, although I used a G0000 Copic to add the light shading around the entire image.

The dot accents were made using an Ice White Viva Decor Pearl pen. I bought a few colors thinking they would be easier to use to create uniformly shaped 'pearls', but I don't think they're much better than Liquid Pearls. I like it, but IMO they're almost the same.

The frosting on the cake was done with Liquid Pearls, which I think came out just as nice.

Now hop on over and check out all the lovely cards the other ladies on the DT created, lots of creative minds at work there!
Thanks for visiting!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

This 'Branches' Cover a Card background stamp is probably the most awesome I have ever seen. I had to create a card that showed off as much of it as possible. I brayered a piece of cardstock with some Adirondack inks then used it to stamp and emboss with black embossing powder. The effect is simply amazing!

The sentiment is from a new Impression Obsession clear set 'A bump in the night'. Lots of great sentiments for all your Halloween cards in that one.

No DP was used at all for this card, just a Spellbinders Label, and a strip of SU striped ribbon. Beautiful, yet eerie, no?

Well I'm off, it's another busy week here, getting ready for back to school! Man, does that ever put a huge dent in my crafting budget, LOL! I haven't bought anything crafting related in a month! I think I'm going through withdrawal....

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Good morning everyone! Just an FYI for those of you who are interested, I've posted a bunch of cards in my Etsy shop, need to thin out the stash!

I thought I'd share a few cards I made for the Impression Obsession booth at CHA a couple of weeks ago. I couldn't be there in person, but my cards were, LOL!

This is one of my favorite of the new stamps released, called 'Bird Bath'. I can't for the life of me remember which paper I used for this card, so if anyone recognizes it please let me know. I used very soft, muted colors to color the image in, plus a lot of Copic Spica gold pen on the bird bath.

I highlighted the berries with a red Glaze pen to give them some dimension, although you can't see that at all in the picture >:-(

I just don't get along well with cameras...the Liquid Glass I applied on the ornaments doesn't show at all either! You'll just have to trust me that it's there, LOL!

Anyway, hope this inspires someone to get going on those Christmas cards. Now that summer is almost over, it's time to start on our holiday cards!

Friday, August 20, 2010

Here's a card I made using one of the new stamps just released at Lili of the Valley, 'Back to School Girl'. Sweet! As soon as I saw her, I knew exactly which papers I was going to use. These are long retired papers from Cosmo Cricket, 'Gretel' collection. The kit included a bunch of die cut letters, which I knew would be perfect for a First Day of School card.

I decided to make an easel card so I could use the huge letters and still have room for a sentiment.

I colored the image with my colored pencils and cut the whole thing out so I could layer it onto a piece of lined paper. I used one of the larger die cuts from the kit and just cut the lines out with PTI's notebook paper die.

A little zig zag stitching around the edges, some Stickles on the letters, a pretty bow and there ya go!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

I have two posts today, so don't forget to scroll down so you can see both of them.

This week our challenge over at the IO blog is Simple Stamping. Simple card with less embellishment. Believe it or not, this is sometimes much harder for me than the usual cards I make! It's hard to restrain myself sometimes, especially without DP or many layers. I chose this sweet cupcake stamp for my focal point, 'Everything's Rose'. (C8437)

I have a really hard time taking good photos of mostly white cards, I have yet to figure out how to do it properly, so please excuse the poor quality of the pics!

The cupcake was colored lickety split with just a few colors of pencils in very pale pastel colors. I cut it out and mounted it to a plain white card base. I did a simple embossed Label frame and a scalloped edge. A little Stickles on the roses, some tiny pearls with Viva Decor pen, a simple ribbon/bow and that's it. A simple sentiment finishes it off. (B8453)

If you need more inspiration, check out the DT's blogs, then you can create your own simple card to enter to win a $25 gift certificate for the IO store!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

It's Thursday and that means it's time for a challenge over at the LOTV blog. Hop on over to take a look at this week's sketch.

I chose this adorable James the Bear 'In the Snow' image to work with. I love these sweet animal designs, so precious!

He was fairly simple to color, seeing he's mostly a couple of shades of brown, and I gave him a matching scarf and hat. That furry cap was made for Polar White Flower Soft and gently falling snowflakes! It's my favorite texture for all things wintry.

All the patterned papers are digital designs from Tracy Ann Digital Art, printed from my computer. I love her collections of papers, they are soooo elegant!

Don't forget to join in on our challenge, there's always a few stamps to give away if you win! Check the LOTV challenge blog for all the deets. From there you can also check out some more eye candy from the other DT ladies.

Lili of the Valley will be releasing a new collection of Christmas animals stamps either today or tomorrow, and they are just to die for! The sweetest little penguins, bears and little critters! Here's a peek at one of the images to give you an idea of what's in store.

This one's called Igloo for Two. I colored it with my colored pencils. I used lots of sparkle with Copic Spica's and Stickles. The background paper was stamped too, with a PTI snowflakes set. I embossed a little snowflake border with a Cuttlebug embossing folder and tied a ribbon around it.

Monday, August 16, 2010

So while digging through my stash of stamps, I happened to find this cutie-pie from Stamping Bella. I went through a phase a while ago using a bunch of the Ketto's and Bittyblooms, then kind of forgot about them. Well, I know a stamp is a keeper if I use it more than once, especially after a long time has passed! This one is just adorable and I had to ink her up again.

Instead of doing a lot of coloring, I decided to paper piece all the pretty layers of her dress and floral hat. I did add some light shading with a couple of Copics though.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Well here I am finally. I know it's been very sporadic posting for me, but I think I may have a very good reason! In case you haven't noticed my new badge in the left sidebar, I've been invited to join the Splitcoast Stampers Dirty Dozen design team. I'm just now starting to come out of the fog I've been in ever since Lydia first asked me a couple of months ago! I was so nervous I really had a lot of trouble concentrating on anything else. I mean, what an honor, a privilege to be a part of the Dirty Girls! So there I was for the past month, frantically working on what had to be my BEST cards ever! All of this in addition to my existing obligations to IO and LOTV DT's. Let me tell you I was feeling the pressure, lol! But, now that the anxiety is starting to subside a bit, the secret is out, I can resume my regular blogging schedule.

Here is a card I thought I would add to the DD gallery, but changed my mind.

Very masculine, with the earthy colors and woodgrain background. I embossed Core'dinations paper with the PTI impression plate and sanded away to reveal the core color. That paper and the impression plate were made for each other let me tell you, I love the wood effect!

Lots of intricate leaf cutting so I could layer them onto some of that brown polka dot paper. I decorated the inside of the card too, just a couple of light colored leaf prints to tie in with the front.

I'm thinking I may change the bow into a more simple knot, not sure if any guys I know like bows!

Hopefully I haven't lost too many readers and you all will understand my absence, and thanks to all of you who are still here! I have lots to share in the coming weeks. And if you don't see anything posted here on my blog, pop on over to Splitcoast to see what I've cooked up for the Dirty Dozen gallery!

If you didn't start at the beginning of the hop please go to the beginning at the Flower Soft Blog.

Now onto my card:

I chose one of Impression Obsession's gorgeous house stamps, because it's perfect with a bit of Flower Soft texture. This one is called House With Porch (H1747). I colored it in with colored pencils, and it's so easy to color because there are already 'pre-shaded' areas. Usually I have to spend a lot of time getting the shading just right, but with this stamp, no problem!

Here's a closer look at the Flower Soft texture:

I used the multi colored Sweet Pea Flower Soft for the flower boxes and some Ultra Fine Sage for the foliage. Doesn't it just add the perfect finishing touch?! Some pretty papers from Memory Box, a fancy Martha Stewart border and a big silk bow, and I call it done!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Time for another Impression Obsession challenge! This week's theme is Home Sweet Home. I decided to use this Arbor (G1759) stamp for my card. I wish this was my home sweet home, lol!

I colored the image with some Copics and broke out my Flower Soft to embellish all the beautiful little flowers. I also made a lush green carpet of grass with the Flower Soft, lots of texture on this card!

Here's a closer look:

The paper is from the Memory Box Rhubarb collection. Love that red!

Now head on over to all the other DT ladies' blogs for more Home-y inspiration--

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

It's sketch challenge time over at the Lili of the Valley Thursday Challenge blog, with an awesome sketch from Bev. I love creating cards from sketches, it makes it so much easier to do something different. I find that sometimes my cards get 'stuck in a rut' so-to-speak. ;-) So here's this week's sketch:

I used the colors from the Basic Grey Wassail papers to color in the image with colored pencils. I wanted the lamp post to look like wrought iron, so I outlined it with a black Sakura Glaze pen. I must say I have a very hard time getting a metallic look with colored pencils, I may have to spend some time studying some tutorials on how to do this more effectively.

I used some white Fun Flock for the furry Santa hats and cuffs on the little girls, I really like that stuff. I also flocked the larger snowflake on the embellishment, and some glass glitter for the smaller one. I love the chunky sparkle of glass glitter, resembles ice crystals.

Now head on over to the LOTV blog and check out the other DT's cards for more inspiration. Then create your own card to enter and win some LOTV stamps!